Daily News Analysis ‘National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6) ’ : 30 May

Why in News: 

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released the primary data from the National Family Health Survey-6, documenting post-pandemic shifts across India’s demographic, maternal, and child health indicators.

Key Facts: Core Demographics, Health Indicators, and Trends

• Institutional Framework: The National Family Health Survey-6 was conducted under the administrative aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, with the International Institute for Population Sciences functioning as the designated nodal agency for field operations.
• Fertility and Contraception Trends: India’s Total Fertility Rate held completely steady at 2.0, remaining structurally below the standard demographic replacement threshold of 2.1, while the overall Contraceptive Prevalence Rate advanced from 66.7% to 69.1%.
• Maternal Healthcare Metrics: The survey recorded a rise in institutional deliveries to 90.6% alongside enhanced antenatal care coverage, showing that 76.2% of pregnant women received medical checkups within their first trimester.
• Maternal Nutrition Surges: The consumption of critical iron-folic acid supplements during pregnancy increased, with mothers taking the tablets for 100 days or more rising to 54.9%, and those completing a 180-day or longer course jumping to 37.8%.
• Child Malnutrition Drops: Significant improvements were noted in core child biometric parameters under five years of age: stunting (low height-for-age) declined from 35.5% to 29.3%, while severe wasting (low weight-for-height) dropped from 7.7% to 5.2%.
• Immunization Milestones: Full vaccination coverage among infants aged 12-23 months advanced to 87.1%, driven by a massive expansion in rotavirus vaccine coverage to 85.4% and public health facilities delivering 95.6% of these total doses.
• Emerging Health Challenges: The data flagged serious long-term lifestyle risks, including an escalating dual burden of undernutrition coexisting with adult obesity, alongside a steady rise in non-communicable diseases.